Neurotoxic Effects of Inhalant Substances

Inhalant substances encompass a broad class of volatile solvents, aerosols and gases that are readily inhaled for their psychoactive effects. Common agents include toluene, nitrous oxide and various alkyl nitrates, all of which cross the blood–brain barrier to depress central nervous system function and, at higher or repeated exposures, induce lasting neuronal injury. Acute intoxication can manifest as euphoria, dizziness and impaired coordination, whereas chronic misuse or occupational exposure is linked to cognitive deficits, mood disturbances, motor dysfunction and in severe cases irreversible neurodegeneration. Mechanistically, inhalants provoke oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, apoptotic cell death and disruption of myelin integrity, often accompanied by activation of resident glial populations. White matter tracts appear particularly vulnerable during critical periods of brain maturation, rendering adolescents and young adults at heightened risk. Global public health concerns arise from the widespread availability of inhalant products, low cost, ease of access and the potential for cumulative damage even at subclinical exposure levels. Improved understanding of underlying pathways has spurred efforts to develop biomarkers of early injury, inform preventive strategies and guide therapeutic interventions for affected individuals.

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Neurotoxic Effects of Inhalant Substances publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in neurotoxic effects of inhalant substances across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Oxidative stress: imbalance between reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant defences that damages lipids, proteins and DNA.
Apoptosis: programmed cell death mediated by caspases leading to controlled elimination of damaged neurons.
Microgliosis: proliferation and activation of microglial cells in response to neuronal injury.
Astrogliosis: reactive enlargement and increased proliferation of astrocytes following CNS damage.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging: MRI technique that quantifies white matter integrity by measuring the diffusion of water molecules along axonal tracts.

References

1. Effects of Acute Toluene Toxicity on Different Regions of Rabbit Brain. Analytical Cellular Pathology (2017).
2. Adolescent Toluene Inhalation in Rats Affects White Matter Maturation with the Potential for Recovery Following Abstinence. PLOS ONE (2012).
3. Neuroinflammation, Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis, Microgliosis and Astrogliosis in the Cerebellum of Mice Chronically Exposed to Waterpipe Smoke. Biomedicines (2023).